Overview

• Jesse Tyler Ferguson revealed on his podcast that his father questioned why he played so many gay characters, including his role on 'Modern Family.'
• Ferguson explained to his father that portraying a gay man on television was a deliberate choice to advocate for marriage equality and LGBTQ+ representation.
• His role as Mitchell Pritchett on 'Modern Family' was among the first positive depictions of a gay married couple, preceding the Supreme Court's 2015 ruling on same-sex marriage.
• He described balancing public advocacy and personal privacy as a 'tricky' challenge, particularly when sharing personal stories with fans.
• Ferguson also reflected on his multi-stage coming-out process to his parents, which spanned several years and required ongoing conversations about acceptance.